Policy Update, May 2, 2014

Thank you for your interest and support of United Way. Contact us if you have any questions.

Help with family engagement survey. Please distribute to families.

Are you a parent of a child in any school in Indiana? Do you have contact with parents? If yes, then you are asked to complete (or forward) a survey. The Indiana Center for Family, School, and Community Partnerships Center is working to secure as many responses statewide as possible to its What Matters Most Survey. The purpose is to gather data on the programs, curriculum, policies and communication strategies that are the most valued by families as it relates to their schools. The survey is not meant for families to rate the school where their children attend but to compile information about how to help schools prioritize family engagement efforts.

Feel free to distribute the paper forms at events where parents are present or send the survey links.
Letter to Schools
Survey in English pdf and

Survey Link in English

Survey in Spanish pdf and Survey Link in Spanish

2-1-1 data confirms housing needs

Affordable and safe rental housing is out of reach in most counties. More than half of Hoosier renters cannot afford the fair market rent. The map at the right illustrates the percentage of renters by county who cannot afford a 2-bedroom unit at fair market rent. The percentages range from 32% in Hamilton to 69% in Monroe.

Utility assistance, housing and food assistance consistently comprise the top need requests by callers to 2-1-1. During the last 12 months (April 2013 through March 2014), housing ranked as the number one caller need. Rent assistance and homeless shelter are the two most frequent housing needs--and the most frequent unmet needs. Seventeen percent of all housing needs were recorded as unmet by 2-1-1.

See the latest housing report from IN211.

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 6

Voter turnout averaged 22% in the 2012 primary and 21% in the 2010 primary. Voter turnout is critical to elections. Learn more about who the candidates are in each district. Absentee and online voting are available now with specific deadlines.

You might also consider working the polls, as our democracy depends upon poll workers.

Letter Carriers' Drive to

Stamp Out Hunger May 10

Letter carriers in more than 1,200 branches nationwide will be picking up non-perishable food donations on Saturday, May 10. Place a bag by your mailbox.

Last year, letter carriers collected more than 74.4 million pounds of non-perishable food-the second-highest amount since the drive began in 1992, bringing the grand total to just under 1.3 billion pounds. Learn more.

One in six Hoosiers and one in four Hoosier children is food insecure. Counties with the highest food insecurity rates include:

Marion
Fayette
Monroe
Delaware
Vigo

Learn more about food insecurity in your county in the Map the Meal Gap 2014 study through Feeding America.

IN211 and Healthcare

During the first quarter of 2014, IN211 Centers asked more than 22,000 callers about health insurance and pre-screened nearly 2,800 callers for healthcare options. See the IN211 Healthcare Project Report from the first quarter.

Provide feedback about the enrollment period for the Marketplace

Now that the first open enrollment period in the health insurance Marketplace has ended, Indiana's stakeholders in healthcare are helping assess what worked well and what may be improved. Service providers are invited to complete a quick survey about observations and experiences with the Marketplace during the first open enrollment period.

Frequently requested links on early education

Because of the strong interest in the new laws, new grants and reimbursement rates, we are including again some of the most frequently requested documents and links.

Check the rates in your county for child care providers accepting Child Care Development Fund (CCDF).
Learn about Paths To Quality and the criteria for each level.
Learn about the CCDF program, including current statistics.
Read the FSSA Release and List of Awardees for the Early Learning Matching Grant program.
Review our summary of early education laws enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 2014.

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:

children prepare for and succeed in school;
individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
individuals access quality healthcare; and
communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.

Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.

Frequently Requested Links / Documents

iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.

Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.

NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities - Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly - Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.

Library of Congress - Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.